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SAN JOSE (KCBS) – San Jose medical marijuana distributors say they are confident a referendum to overturn a city ordinance that taxes sales and sharply curtails the number of pot clubs will qualify for the ballot.

Signature gatherers have blanketed the city for nearly a week trying to collect the 30,050 signatures needed before the Oct. 29 deadline.

“I’m very optimistic because of the response that we’ve already seen,” said Dave Hodges, founder of the All American Cannabis Club.

Hodges’ dispensary and about 100 others would be forced to close under existing city laws that allow permits for just 10 pot clubs.

KCBS’ Mike Colgan Reports:

Strong Initial Support For Referendum Against San Jose Marijuana Tax

More than 3,000 signatures have been collected since the Citizens Coalition for Patient Care launched the referendum campaign on Sept. 29, according to Hodges.

“We’ve already been seeing voters who have never voted before who are registering to vote just to sign our petition,” he said.

Hodges predicted that no pot clubs would remain once the San Jose ordinances took effect at the end of October because of an overly restrictive requirement that all pot sold be grown on-site.

“Unfortunately it’s equivalent to an effective ban,” he said.

If enough valid signatures are gathered for the referendum, the city council could choose to repeal the ordinances without putting them on the ballot, avoiding a costly campaign.

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